Controlling access to a computing device with a wireless device using wireless signal strength measurements

Abstract

A method for controlling access to a computing device which involves detecting, at a key device, one or more wireless devices configured as wireless access points. A handshake operation involving the key device and the computing device is performed wherein the computing device is included among the one or more wireless devices. Wireless signals transmitted by the computing device are received, during a calibration phase, at the key device. During the calibration phase the key device determines an approximate signal strength corresponding to a desired distance between the key device and the computing device. Based upon a received signal strength of other wireless signals transmitted by the computing device, it may be detected that the key device and the computing device are separated by at least the desired distance. If so, the computing device may be electronically locked or user access to it otherwise inhibited.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for controlling access to a computing device, the method comprising:
 detecting, at a key device, one or more wireless devices configured as wireless access points; 
 performing a handshake operation involving the key device and the computing device wherein the computing device is included among the one or more wireless devices; 
 receiving, at the key device and during a calibration phase, wireless signals transmitted by the computing device wherein during the calibration phase the key device determines an approximate signal strength corresponding to a desired distance between the key device and the computing device; 
 receiving, at the key device and subsequent to the calibration phase, other wireless signals transmitted by the computing device; 
 detecting, based upon a received signal strength of the other wireless signals, that the key device and the computing device are separated by at least the desired distance and, based upon the detecting, electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device; 
 sending, based upon the detecting, a push notification to a remote server wherein the remote server forwards the push notification to the computing device and wherein the computing device is configured to initiate the electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device based upon the push notification. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further including detecting that the computing device and the key device are separated by less than the desired distance and electronically unlocking or otherwise enabling user access to the computing device. 
     
     
       3. A method for controlling access to a computing device, the method comprising:
 detecting, at a key device, one or more wireless devices configured as wireless access points; 
 sending, from the key device, a device registration request to a remote server wherein the device registration request forms at least part of a handshake operation involving the key device and the computing device wherein the computing device is included among the one or more wireless devices; 
 receiving, at the key device and during a calibration phase, wireless signals transmitted by the computing device wherein during the calibration phase the key device determines an approximate signal strength corresponding to a desired distance between the key device and the computing device; 
 receiving, at the key device and subsequent to the calibration phase, other wireless signals transmitted by the computing device; 
 detecting, based upon a received signal strength of the other wireless signals, that the key device and the computing device are separated by at least the desired distance and, based upon the detecting, electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device; 
 sending, based upon the detecting, a push notification to a remote server wherein the remote server forwards the push notification to the computing device and wherein the computing device is configured to initiate the electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device based upon the push notification. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  further including detecting that the computing device and the key device are separated by less than the desired distance and electronically unlocking or otherwise enabling user access to the computing device. 
     
     
       5. A method for controlling access to a computing device, the method comprising:
 detecting, at a key device, one or more wireless devices configured as wireless access points; 
 sending, from the key device, a device registration request to a remote server wherein the device registration request forms at least part of a handshake operation involving the key device and the computing device wherein the computing device is included among the one or more wireless devices; 
 
       receiving wireless signals transmitted by the computing device;
 detecting, based upon a received signal strength of the wireless signals, that the computing device and the key device are separated by at least the desired distance and, based upon the detecting, electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device; 
 sending, based upon the detecting, a push notification to a remote server wherein the remote server forwards the push notification to the computing device and wherein the computing device is configured to initiate the electronically locking or otherwise inhibiting user access to the computing device based upon the push notification. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further including detecting that the computing device and the key device are separated by less than the desired distance and electronically unlocking or otherwise enabling user access to the computing device.